Chapter 14- Reflection, build-up and a whole range of 'mercy'
I'll be referencing The World of RWBY: The Official Companion regarding Salem's goal to absorb the powers of the Maidens and rule Remnant as its dark queen (I have managed to add that detail into the narrative as best as I can). Enjoy!
As Adam, Pardus and Chloe in disguise went around Argus trying to convince people to support the 'Black Talons', he came face to face with a former Schnee Dust company worker.
His eyes narrowed as he recalled the last time, he'd seen the person.
-Flashback-
When Adam was about 16, he joined the Faunus labour force that helped with the Schnee Dust Company, mainly with the mining and distributing.
Most of the supervisors for the labour force was human and professional in their field.
One of them, a male, tried to offer Adam a hand in friendship.
Adam, who had been naïve at the time, took it and trusted the man.
During his time on the force, other humans refused to give the workers breaks, constantly talked down to the faunus etc.
About a year later, someone was tripped by a human setting off a small explosion nearby.
No one was killed but it spooked everyone.
The man Adam had trusted blamed him for the incident.
"You faunus are nothing but a pack of tools for us humans. So maybe we should BRAND you that way!" he cried.
He got out a logo branding tool that was hot and aimed it at Adam's left eye.
He screamed in pain as the humans just laughed at his agony.
It left him with a scarred bloodied eye with a grey iris and a singed eyebrow.
This abuse left the start of a physical and mental scar on his views on humanity…
-End of flashback-
Adam's hatred towards one of his past abusers began to surface.
"Adam…focus on our mission. You can take out your personal vendettas later" Chloe advised in a low voice.
He gritted his teeth and continued past his former 'fake human friend'.
The smugglers who had chased after Adam in pursuit arrived in Argus long before the mistral police had even caught up.
Pardus stayed with Adam as Chloe managed to convince some of the military at the base to join the Black Talons as well.
The ship that had brought the peaceful white fang member and police to Argus took Blake to Vacuo so she could stay with her friends alongside Ilia.
Sometime later, Adam got a message from Watts about getting ready to head to Mantle when their job in Argus was done.
All this while, Nova, Ebony and Sienna along with the peaceful white fang members and mistral police were still on Adam's trail.
-Two weeks later-
The Black Talons uniforms for the Vacuo Branch were finally done: A orange, gold and black uniform with vulture patterns and a vulture-based mask for Vacuo.
Ruby and friends returned to Shade Academy to avoid getting roped into the black Talons by force.
Nico and Qrow were forced to help the group as huntsmen supporters with the first task:
Furtiva had her purple venom gun in hand as the group were equipped with the uniforms and ready go.
She led the group to Shade Academy and started the attack on the CCT tower.
Nuri and Akili got ready to head inside with Mercury and Hazel while team VRSZ stayed on watch outside.
Being back where I'm from does feel weird Nuri thought.
He recalled something his parents had told him near the end of Ghira's time as white Fang leader:
"Don't loose your spark. Your creativity and quick thinking are what keeps you alive. Nurture it no matter what" His mother had said.
"You'll get to join us on missions when you're a little older too" His father had added.
Nuri had been 16 at the time when his parents were called by Corsac and Fennec through a hologram on a dust raid mission.
They died on that mission and he met Akili after officially joining the group (He was brought up in Mistral but born in Vacuo).
He sighed.
Team RWBY and friends were inside.
Goldie was in the vault below and they had to get the relic to avoid Salem's wrath.
Matlal got out his spinach chain as he had recently eaten crab cake and a cactus leaves pastry to prepare for battle.
They charged fighting Team CVFY and SSSN along the way as Matlal's semblance activated with a green aura shimmer as he whipped his chain hard at Coco, demonstrating his increased strength.
Velvet used a hard-light dust copy of one of Team SSSN's weapons to deflect the chain.
Nuri and Akili managed to get through as he brought out his Indian circular wooden staff called Saptarishi from his belt and put the segments of said staff together.
Saptarishi is a staff approximately 2.5m long and comprises 5 interlocking segments. Each segment locks into an adjacent segment using a simple rotation lock and contains a different dust in either raw crystal or powdered form, which is held inside an internal compartment. This compartment is not easily accessible and is intended to be loaded before combat.
It was equipped with fire, water, Lightening and wind dust.
He used his Appearance illusions semblance to make himself and Akili have the appearance of Fox and Velvet respectfully.
They came into the light as they found Ruby and friends guarding the way to the Vault.
"Fox, Velvet…you're back so soon?" Ruby wondered.
Nora was about to approach her, but Ren stopped her.
"It's not them" he warned.
"Who are you really?" Yang asked.
'Fox' smiled and then attacked as the illusion reverted to show his true form as he used the fire dust at the end of his staff to connect with Nora's hammer.
Then Jaune, Weiss and Ren helped so Nuri combined the water and wind dust in the middle of his staff by striking the middle of it on the palm of his right hand, causing the element of the middle segment to glow light blue up the staff and form a "spearhead" lasting approximately thirty seconds as he struck Weiss in the back before avoiding Jaune's sword.
Mercury faced Yang.
"About time we had a REAL rematch, blondie" he stated.
"Bring it" Yang teased.
Mercury used his boots to throw kicks at her which she blocked.
Hazel using pure fire dust charged at the others while Akili got past them to the entrance of the vault.
That was when the Velvet illusion wore off because it had been 5 minutes.
When Akili got to the vault itself, Goldie and Mari were still there.
"You…are you them?" Mari asked with intense fear.
"Please….don't hurt us….we'll do anything" Goldie begged.
"It's…ok. I just need your help to get the relic" Akili said, gently.
Then she received a message from Watts.
"And you, Summer Maiden" She added, wearily.
She examined Mari's eyes.
"You're like the young girl upstairs…I…thought she was the last" She pondered.
"If I go with you, will you promise to not rat them out…please?" Goldie pleaded.
Akili sighed.
"Alright but my boss will throw a fit if she ever finds out" she pointed out.
Goldie led the way to the chamber.
Inside was an Oasis-like setting with a sense of dead in the air coming from the sword itself.
The sword of destruction had markings etched on the blade with curves near the hilt in a black and orange colouring.
Goldie picked it up and solemnly followed Akili.
"Mari, stay here. I'll make sure those nice students come get you when these 'people' are gone" she promised.
"Ok… I just hope the 'hunter' doesn't hurt you" Mari said with concern.
"I'll try to make sure she comes back in one piece" Akili said, nervously as they then went back up with the relic in hand.
Outside, the ship from Mistral landed to allow Blake and Ilia in Vauco city just as the Black Talons set explosives to the CCT tower.
Everyone inside got out and then it was set off.
The CCT Tower fell.
Goldie managed to catch Ruby alone for about 30 seconds and hurriedly in a whisper warned her to check on Mari after the bad guys were gone.
Shade Academy had collateral damage from the explosion as Hazel, Nuri, Akili, Goldie and Mercury got a ship to escape.
-Meanwhile-
Back in Argus, the job was finally done but Sienna had finally caught up.
As Adam, Chloe and Pardus boarded at Atlas ship in disguise, Sienna got inside it along with two more stowaways (Ebony and Nova).
Chloe was flying the ship to Mantle as this happened.
"You god damn BASTARD! You'll pay for trying to kill me!" she cried.
Adam laughed, sadistically.
"Maybe I should try harder the second time" he sneered and got out wilt and blush.
Sienna got out her chain whip and activated her semblance (and Aura).
The orange image of a tiger was projected around her as she charged at him.
She used the ice dust dagger to freeze his legs and kicked him near the ribs.
Adam used laido, a method in Japanese sword fighting that involves quickly unsheathing for a rapid attack and then sheathing again as she attacked again with her chain.
He glowed red as he absorbed the attack.
"And how long do you plan to fight me while we're on air?" Sienna challenged.
"As long as it takes" Adam stated with radiating confidence.
Sienna grinned.
Out came 'Yuma' and 'Tifa' who managed to apprehend Pardus and confiscate his chainsaw.
"What?! Why?" Adam cried.
"You abandoned the cause. Made it worse for your little war ambitions and careful but obsessive hunt for the Belladonna girl. When we arrive in Atlas, you'll all be placed in jail immediately" 'Yuma' stated.
Adam looked 'Yuma' in the eye.
"Something about you reminds me of HER. As soon as we land, I'll find out exactly who you are and kill you myself" he threatened.
'Tifa' fired webs to shut him up as Sienna handcuffed him.
"You're only not cuffed because you can fly the plane, traitor" Sienna hissed at Chloe.
"Glad to see I'm still of use to you" Chloe chuckled, her right-hand glowing green in response and her...gauntlets channelled her toxic semblance.
-Back in Vacuo-
With a handful of mistral Police and Vacuo Huntsmen teams in the area, Furtiva got the Black Talon members to scatter to other settlements like Kenyte and Coquina.
"Sorry we're late to the battle" Blake said, awkwardly.
"But we're here now" Ilia added.
"I'm so glad you both made it!" Sun exclaimed.
"Although we lost AGAIN" Ruby sighed.
"If you keep talking like that you'll never win" Coco pointed out.
"They may have gotten away with the girl and the prize, but we'll keep fighting" Nora affirmed.
"That's what I love about you kids. Endless enthusiasm" Qrow chuckled.
"Yang, let's check on Mari" Ruby said, quickly.
Down in the vault, Mari was crying after hearing the explosion as Ruby and Yang managed to reach her and get her to safety.
"Please, make sure Goldie comes back. She deserves a life" Mari said, tearfully.
"We'll find a way" Yang said firmly.
"Well good luck with your adventures, Team RWBY and friends. WE still need to crack this 'Crown' case. Coming boys?" Coco called once Ruby, Yang and Goldie were away from the damaged school.
"Yep" Sage replied.
"See ya guys. Come on fellas!" Sun called to his teammates.
"We're not giving up, Salem. Even if you're more successful" Ruby said, sternly.
-In the place known as Evernight Castle-
The castle shared the scheme of the landscape with shades of violets, purples, reddish sky and black for shadows. It seemed to be built out of rock and purple crystal that was tall or situated on a tall mound and decorated by smaller crystals and candles.
The entire building was dimly lit, only illuminated by weak candles, the dark sky and sometimes the moon.
When the stolen ship arrived there, Goldie was super nervous as Akili, Nuri, Hazel and Mercury led the way inside to the conference hall.
The room features a crystal table surrounded by six wooden chairs, four of which belong to Tyrian Callows, Cinder Fall, Hazel Rainart and Arthur Watts. At the end of the table, Salem sits in her crystal throne.
Opposite her throne is a pair of simple wooden double doors that are the only entrance to the room, which leads to the first training room. A number of crystal formations surround the room with white candles on their tops, and behind Salem's throne is a crystal table adorned with several white candles. Above the table is a chandelier made out of branches and crystals. The floor is made of square, reflective tiles.
"What news do you bring?" Salem asked.
"We bring the sword of destruction and the summer maiden as you requested" Akili replied.
"And Vacuo and the Black Talons?"
"The Black Talons branch in Vacuo were assembled and after the Shade tower fell, they scattered to avoid capture" Hazel reported.
"Well done, everyone. I'm glad you're all keeping in line. Nuri, I'll need you to check in with Nova regarding Adam and Sienna's progress" Salem advised.
Nuri nodded, too fearful to speak.
The dark mistress approached Goldie while the poor girl shivered like a leaf.
"Now then, as for you summer maiden…I'll be needing your power" Salem stated.
She used her dark power to absorb the summer Maiden's powers, a purple aura surrounded Goldie as it was taken.
"Akili, take care of her at once. The last target is Atlas. Hazel, let Team VRSZ know their services are no longer required. Once Cinder is awake and returns from Vale, the rest of you will make your way to join Neo in Mantle or Atlas. Soon enough, my victory will be here" Salem stated.
Akili brought Goldie away and snuck on a ship to get her back home.
"Akili, what are you doing?" Nuri called out.
"Tell Salem I did the deed. I'll be back as soon as I can" Akili insisted with tears in her eyes.
"Please be careful" Nuri said, gently.
He watched as the ship left in the horizon.
Meanwhile-
Cinder finally woke up as Salem had worked on her injuries to refine her grimm side.
"Where's Emerald?" She asked with some disorientation.
"She's in Vale, looking for the relic there. You're doing to join her once the side effects of my 'special treatment' has worn off" Salem explained.
"This is your chance to redeem yourself. Don't come back until you understand your desires can only be acquired through me" she added.
Cinder stayed silent and nodded.
A few days later, she headed off to Vale.
In the city of Vale, it was mostly uninhabitable.
Glynda Goodwitch, who was the new headteacher since Ozpin reincarnated into Oscar via Aura (I think), was in charge of the Huntsman Base.
The other professors: Thumbelina Peach, Ann Greene, Harold Mulberry etc had made 50% progress on trying to rebuild Beacon Academy.
Emerald was inside the school, searching for the Beacon Vault.
The Vault that had been used to keep Amber hidden in the life support machine back in Volume 3 was linked to Patch, where Ruby and her family were from.
A little while later, Cinder arrived in Patch and reunited with Emerald.
"I'm so glad you're ok" Emerald, said, tearfully.
"Do you have the location of the relic?" Cinder asked, bluntly.
"I think so" The thief girl replied.
She led the way to the cliff side with Summer Rose's grave.
Buried close to the grave was a gold and green crown with jewels, the relic of choice.
Taiyang and Raven tried to defend the grave but with Emerald's semblance, she and Cinder were able to outsmart them in order to escape.
"We need to warn Qrow" Taiyang stated.
Raven clutched her fist in anger.
-Back in Salem's Domain-
Cinder gave Salem the crown and Salem smiled at another successful job.
"Master, let me kill the girl. I've managed to master my powers through anger" Cinder said.
"You'll get your chance to kill someone now. Now go help Tyrian and Neo find the last maiden for me" Salem ordered.
Cinder sighed but complied with the orders.
'We're rising like the moon'
-To be continued-
At long last Volume 6 is done. Just in time too because I've completed Volume 7 already.
Are you ready for pain, trauma and heartbreak?
If the answer is yes for all three, the you're prepared for volume 7.
Trivia time:
Neo's Grimm Faunus companion is actually Akira not Raven Ebony (Raven Ebony was in Atlas)
Akira Blake(Leader of the Mantle Black Talons branch which merges with the Atlas Branch) and Raven Ebony= the Grimm Faunus (a rare species/type of Faunus)
First hint: s/11396916/27/ Magical-Disney-Saving-Our-Childhood
Debut: s/ 11703712/3/ Magical-Disney-4-The-Magic-Awakens (Akira)
s/ 11703712/4/ Magical-Disney-4-The-Magic-Awakens (Raven Ebony)
Appearance (Akira): a young man who looked similar to Ren only wearing black and white garments instead of Ren's green colourful outfit with a bewolf (The original design from the red trailer) grimm's pitch-black furry ears and tail features and green eyes that can change to red at will as well as retractable long, sharp, white claws.
(Raven Ebony) another Grimm Faunus only with a beowolf's tail that was female that looked a bit like Summer Rose only wearing a black hood to cover her long half-red, half-black hair and a red battle dress that only revealed her nature red eyes
Backstory: Akira started of as a 'Big Bad' in his debut with Raven Ebony as his helper and viewed as Cinder's 'master', wishing to get all the maidens' powers.
When Salem was revealed to be the TRUE RWBY villain, he and Raven Ebony were demoted to her followers, assisting her group at her wish instead.
Personality: The pair are both bitter that people, Human and Faunus, view them as monsters for being rare Grimm faunus.
Mentions: s/ 12109228/17/ Magical-Disney-Shorts
Occupation: Salem's primary subjects that were also overseeing mankind's destruction.
Gregory Vert and Gecko Lime is the same person/ brothers based on Gecko from the PJ Masks
Her second in command who keeps her in line when Snechta is busy checking the progress of the Mantle, Vacuo and Atlas branches is the gecko Faunus (based partly on PJ Mask Gekko
The hooded figure is Nico Taurus Phantom
The black Talons is loosely based on the guardians of Ga'hoole and Marahute from the Rescuers down under.
See Ya next time!